Rod Williams

Born: Detroit, Michigan

Residence: New York, New York.

Pianist, Keyboardist, Composer, Arranger and Sound Designer. Performed and recorded with Cassandra Wilson, David Murray, James Newton, James Carter, Olu Dara, Lester Bowie, Dewey Redman, Greg Osby, Steve Coleman, Geri Allen, Marcus Belgrave, Bob Hurst, Danny Spencer, Sam Rivers, Henry Threadgill, Nasheet Waits, Ed Blackwell, Phil Ranelin, Osamu Koichi, Yasuhiro Yoshigaki, Jean-Paul Bourelly, Eddie Harris, Julius Hemphill, Oliver Lake, Marty Ehrlich, Billy Hart, Billy Higgins,Bob Steward, Lonnie Plaxico, Paul Jackson, Duane Eubanks, Vincent Henry, Mor Thiam, Kazutoki Umezu, Kazuko Shiraishi, Dianne McIntyre's Dance in Motion, Deidre Murray, Opera and Theater Director Diane Paulus, etc.
Bachelor of Science in Electronic Music/M.F.A.Performance and Interactive Media Arts - Brooklyn College - CUNY

Gear

Macbook Pro, Logic Pro X

Patrick Brennan: Tilting Curvaceous

Read "Tilting Curvaceous" reviewed by John Sharpe

by John Sharpe
July 26, 2023

In spite of being active on the NYC scene since the mid-'70s, alto saxophonist and composer patrick brennan (he prefers his name spelled entirely in lowercase letters) has a relatively sparse discography, to which tilting curvaceous constitutes a splendid addition. It constitutes the seventh release by his S0nic 0penings band since Introducing S0UP (Deep Dish, 1981), but the first since 2007's Muhheankuntuk (Clean Feed). Bassist Hilliard Greene has been an ever-present since 2002, though trumpeter Brian Groder, drummer Michael TA ...

Album Review

Patrick Brennan Sonic Openings: Tilting Curvaceous

Read "Tilting Curvaceous" reviewed by Karl Ackermann

by Karl Ackermann
May 23, 2023

The quintet project Tilting Curvaceous is saxophonist/composer Patrick Brennan's sixth leader/co-leader date since the late 1990s. His duo recording Terraphonia (Creative Sources Recordings, 2019) with guitarist Abdul Moimême demonstrated a strong affinity for free improvisation within unconventional settings and uncommon concepts. Brennan is joined by trumpeter and flugelhorn player Brian Groder. The native New Yorker has been a long-time fixture on the NYC jazz scene and has devoted a significant part of his career to the frequent use of free-form ...

Liner Notes

Patrick Brennan and sOnic Opening: Tilting Curvaceous

by Howard Mandel
March 16, 2023

Tilting Curvaceous is all-of-a-piece, s0nic 0penings' instigator and extraordinary alto saxophonist Patrick Brennan informs us, emerging from a single “meta-groove interface," to be heard whole. That may come naturally to fans of creative improvisation since the breakthroughs of Ornette Coleman, say, and new constructions by composers including Cecil Taylor, the Art Ensemble of Chicago, Henry Threadgill and Brennan himself. However, as presented in 14 distinct tracks, this album is also a suite of inter-related movements--separate, comparable, able to ...

Album Review

Keisuke Kishi: Elsewhere

Read "Elsewhere" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
May 16, 2021

The album is titled Elsewhere. It is the work of Japanese drummer Keisuke Kishi, who is based in New York. But where is elsewhere? Is it the western shore of Oahu, an area of stark landscapes and poverty, in relative isolation from the bustling tourism of Waikiki? Or is it Bagamoyo, Tanzania? The album's cover art features a photo from Bagamoyo. Kishi has spent time in both of these locales. Or is elsewhere East Village, New York City, Kishi's home ...

"Rod Williams is one of the many musicians in New York who toil in the background, but shouldn't. He is an empathetic accompanist, stabbing away a chords when needed, adding lush solos on cue. Mr Williams has an easy sort of virtuosity. Mr. Williams, who deserves to be heard in his own context more often". Peter Watrous/ New York Times Bill Shoemaker of JazzTimes wrote,"Williams can produce rich melodic improvisation on asymmetric thematic materials full of a sudden shift in tempo and mood, extended structures, and tangy idiomatic mixture, and make them swing.”